CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending August 3, 2012

Percent for Art – Library Project Progress

A committee of Library staff, Gould Evans architects, several Lawrence Cultural Arts Commissioners, and City staff are working together on how best to integrate public art into the new Library building. The percent for art budget has been established at $75,000. There may be opportunities to increase that amount depending on how the art would be integrated into the architecture, utilizing materials already identified in the construction budget. For example, if the exterior of the parking garage were identified as the location for the art, the construction funds already designated for the parking garage exterior could aid the established percent for art budget. This group has identified a need for a public forum to invite the public’s ideas on how to incorporate art into this project. This forum will be held the first week of September; a specific date is to be determined.

Production of new fire apparatus continues

The attached report from Pierce Manufacturing contains an update and photos of the production of the city’s new Engine 4. Final acceptance of the fire apparatus is projected to be in early September.

July sales tax distributions

The City of Lawrence recently received its July sales tax distribution. The distribution is the result of retail sales from mid-May to mid-June. The distribution of $2,747,034.42 is nearly $95,000 more than the prior year distribution for the same month. Please see the attached memo for more information.